Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.  This is the quickest and easiest way to gain "instant gratification" in enhancing your smile. 

Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. 

BriteSmile is done in the dental office in about an hour.  And the results are amazing! We've found that the BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening System is the safest and most effective way to achieve the whitest shade your teeth will naturally get.  After researching and using several other well-known whitening methods, we have returned to the best and the brightest, BriteSmile. 

Here's how it works: A barrier is placed on the gum tissue to protect the gums.  A proprietary hygdrogen peroxide gel is placed on the teeth and a special blue light plasma lamp is used.  This lamp has no UV rays and is completely safe.  The gel conatins an ingredient that reacts with the lamp to achieve the brilliant results BriteSmile is known for. The gel is changed a few times to insure it is at it's strongest concentration during the entire procedure. Most people fall asleep during the procedure because it's so relaxing, but you may also watch TV during the hour.  It's easy.  It's the one that works. 

BriteSmile is also one of the most effective ways to conservatively disguise antibiotic staining in the teeth.  We start with BriteSmile, which dramatically improves the "banding"  inside the tooth, and continue with trays over a period of several months to greatly reduce or eliminate the discolorations.  Other alternatives to whitening are crowning or veneering the teeth.

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Another popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth over a few weeks with custom trays and a gel used for one hour a day.  This type of tooth whitening usually requires two visits.  At the first appointment, impressions will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays.

At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary.  The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or for 1 hour straight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening.  It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but it will subside shortly after you have stopped bleaching. 

You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.

Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc.  Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.

Teeth can naturally darken with age, smoking, drinking coffee, tea, or red wine. Tooth whitening is not permanent, but can be maintained for many years.  Maintenance products are necessary to keep the shade bright and prevent restaining. Touch-ups can be done with trays, BriteSmile To Go pens or other methods, whichever is convenient to your lifestyle, usually only once every month or two, or before special occasions.  

Reasons for tooth whitening:

  • Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development).
  • Normal wear of outer tooth layer.
  • Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.).
  • Yellow, brown stained teeth.